FG reiterates commitment to internal security

THE Federal Government has restated its commitment to protecting lives and property of the citizens of the country, which is the primary responsibility of government.

Minister of Interior, Lieutenant Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazzau, (Rtd), in Abuja when he received the Royal College of Defence Studies Tour team, on a study tour of West Africa.

He informed the tour team that the Ministry of Interior, with the mandate of maintaining public safety and internal security, has been involved in post-conflict peace-building in the North-East, following the defeat of Boko Haram, which has in recent times besieged Nigeria.

He said that part of the master plan for boosting the internal security architecture of the country include the establishment of good communication; community policing, whereby citizens are encouraged to be involved.

Dambazzau, said the Federal government has built the capacity of the Police for maximal functioning; and the establishment of a Multi-Agency Situation Room, aimed at integrating the various services in a common purpose of monitoring and providing information on activities in the cities real time.

The minister, however, lamented the proliferation of small arms and light weapon, Niger Delta militancy, which he said posed security threat to the nation.

He noted that Nigeria was also faced with ecological challenges, given rise to desertification, and invariably leads to migration of humans and livestock, he said had been the major cause of pastoralists and sedentary farmers’ conflicts in some part of the country.

He disclosed that in dealing with security challenges, Nigeria has also signed Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements with the United Kingdom in areas such as irregular migration, prisoner transfer and capacity building.

He added Nigeria has had agreements on joint operations with UK on investigations, sharing of information and intelligence, and airport liaison, while the UK is providing technical assistance on equipment and forensic analysis, saying that the UK has been a close ally of Nigeria as she battles security challenges.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the Royal College of Defence Studies Overseas Study Tour 2017 – West Africa, Maj. Gen. Craig Lawrence, said they were on tour of West Africa and in Nigeria to gain an insight on how Nigeria has been dealing with its security challenges.

He thanked the Minister for receiving them and providing them with a detailed brief on the workings of the Ministry of Interior, which he promised would be incorporated into their report.